Senegal doubles penalty for same-sex relations

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has signed into law a controversial bill increasing penalties for same-sex relations, with offenders now facing up to 10 years in prison.

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The legislation, approved by Senegal’s National Assembly with 135 votes in favour, strengthens existing laws by raising the maximum sentence from five years to between five and 10 years. It also introduces penalties of three to seven years in prison for individuals found guilty of promoting or financing same-sex relationships.

The law refers to same-sex relations as “acts against nature” and includes additional fines ranging from two million to 10 milli on CFA francs. Reacting to the development, UN human rights chief Volker Türk described the move as “deeply worrying” and said it “flies in the face of the sacrosanct human rights”.

Reports indicate that enforcement has already intensified, with dozens of arrests made in recent months, often based on accusations and phone searches. The law also penalises false accusations, introducing consequences for individuals who accuse others of same-sex acts without proof.

Human rights organisations, including UNAIDS and ILGA World, had urged the government not to sign the bill, warning it could discourage people from seeking essential health services and undermine individual freedoms.

Despite international concern, the legislation reflects strong domestic support in Senegal, where LGBTQ rights remain a sensitive and widely contested issue, often framed within cultural and religious debates. Senegal joins a number of African countries that enforce strict laws against same-sex relations, with penalties across the continent ranging from imprisonment to, in some cases, capital punishment.